Reversing gear



Sept. 6,1927. K BERGER 1,641,614

REVERS ING. GEAR Filed Aug. 4, 1924 l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l A 1,641,614 Spt- 621927- K. BERGER REVERSINGl GEAR Filed Aug. 4. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/v//f/vmf? Mge; de/yer Sept. 6, 1927.

K.`BERGER l REVERSING GEAR Filed Aug. 4. 1924 3 Sheets-51166.11 3

ATTORNEY v operation of the invention.

Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

LINEN S1* 1c e. f

KNUTE BERGER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

anvnnsrne GEAR.

Application filed August My invention yrelates to improvements in reversing gears for steam engines and the object of my invention is to provide simple and Aefficient means for controlling the movement ofthe valves of steam engines whereby the engine may be reversed or the operating conditions of the valves may be changed Another object is to provide simple and efficient valve operating devices that may be used to replace the link mechanism of well known types now used on steam engines.

Another object is to provide valve operating mechanism that will produce valve operating conditions of maximum efficiency and that will produce exactly thel same valve movement for both directions of rotation of .an engine crank shaft Further objects are to provide valve operating devices that have few bearings and parts to becomeY worn and permit lost motion and that are capable of operating at a high rate of speed with less vibration and less danger of being damaged when in operation.

I accomplish these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- 1n-- Figure 1 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation of a valve operating device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation on a larger scale showing the end of one of the operating units, one half of the cover plate being removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 3, 3 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in elevation;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detached plan views showing details of my invention; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation illustrating the application of my invention to a steam engine;

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation substantially on broken line 7--7 of Fig. 1 showing a valve operating unit with the cover plate removed.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views of the valve operating unit substantially on broken lines 8-8 and 9-9 respectively ofFig. 1.

Fig, 10 is a valve diagram' illustrating the Fig. 11 is sectional view line 11, 11 of Fig. 1. l

Referringy to the drawings, throughout which like reference knumerals indicate like parts, 10 is a frame having bearings 11 taken on broken 4, v1924. Serial No. 729,920;

by the tubular shaft 12 may vbe rotated at the same speed as the engine crank shaft. f

The numeral- 17 indicates a sleeve that is slidably but not rotatably disposed within the tubular shaft 112 and that has a 'tubular lining 18, preferably of Babbitt metal, in whichis provided an internal spiral vgroove or thread through which is threaded a screw shaft 20.

A two part collar 21 is slidably mounted on the tubular shaft 12 and is provided ywith keys 22 that extend through longitudinal slots 23 in the shaft 12 kand project into' recesses 24 in the sleeve 17 whereby the sleeve 17 may be moved lengthwise within the shaft 12 by moving the .collar 21 lengthwise on said shaft vto thereby rotate the shaft20, the collar 21 being arranged to rotate with the tubular shaft 12.

The numeral 25 indicates a non-rotatable shifter yoke disposed in an annular groove in the rotatable collar 21 and is connected by oppositely arranged pins 26 with spaced lever bars 27 that are fulcrumed at 28 and are connected at their top ends with block 30 through which the screw ,'31 is threaded whereby the lever bars 27 will be moved back and forth by the turning of the screw 81 to thereby adjust the angular position of the shaft 20. i The screw 31 is rotatably supported in a block 32 on the rigid frame member 38 so that it cannot move lengthwise but may -tilt sufficiently to compensate for the swinging movement of the links 27 about the fulcruin 28. A hand wheel 34 is provided on 'the outer end of the screw 31 for turning the same.V

In Fig. 1 I have shown a valve operating unit, designated generally by the numeral 35, mounted on each end of the tubular shaft 12 for operating the valves of a double cylinder engine, but it will be understood that these u-nits are duplicates, that only one will be used on'a single cylinder engine, and that "a description of one will apply equally well to the other. y

The-valve operating unitseach comprise a cylindrical housing formed of a disc-like outer -or front plate 36, an annular ring v87, a rear plate 88 and a sleeve 40 arranged to ffl fit over and be secured to a tubular shaft 12 by tap screws 4l and bolts 42, said sleeve 40 having a flange 43 at the forward end to Which rear end'plate 38 is secured. All the parts constituting thehousing of the valve operating unit may be secured together by screws 39.

The numeral 44 indicates a hub linedv on the end of the shaft 2O that is journaled by bearingv 45 in the rear plate 38 and flange 43. The ring 46 is adjustablelby set screws 47 and provides i'or a taleup oi' Wear in the bearing 45. y

Hub 44 projects through the rear plate 38 and is provided with an annular bearing surface indicated by broken line 48 in Fig. 2, Which is slightly eccentric relative to sha-tt 20, Whose center islocated at point A While the center of the bearing surface 48 is located at point B.

50 is a ring yoke, shown in Figs. 2 and 5,

`that its'snugly over eccentric bearing sur- `face 48 land has at one point an extension 5l Whereon is provided a rigid stud pin 52 that passes through a square block and serves as a pivotal support for a valve operating member designated generally by numeral 54 more clearly shown in 4. The block 53 is'g'uided for movementradially of the housing by guide velements 55 that are formed in the housing` as shown in Fig. 8.k

The valve operating member 54 has outwardly protruding valve operating pin 56 that projects through a relativelyv long straight slot 57 in the outer end or cover plate 36 of the housing and that isarranged to be connected by a connecting rod 58,

reception of a square block 64 into which.

protrudes a crank pin 65 that is rigidly and eccentrically mounted on the end or' the hub 44.

In the operation of my device the valve operating units and all mechanism on shaft 12 Will be rotated by the turning of shaft 12 at the same speed. as the crank shaft l5 oi the engine and the valves of the engine, being connected With eccentric pins 56 will be moved in correct synchronisin With the movement of the engine pistons.

If it is desired to vary the operation of the valves to suit dierent Working conditions of the engine, or to reverse the engine, this may be accomplished by turning the hand Wheel 34 thereby rotating the shaft 2O and causing the valve operating pin 56 to be moved Within the slot 57 toward or avvay from the center oi" rotation of the valve operating device or past the center of the valve operating device if the engine is to be reversed.

' It Will be noted that the slot 57 is straight and that thev pin 56 is moving in said slot moves in a straight line past and to one side of, but noty through, the center of rotation of the device. This is accomplished by supporting the valve adjusting member 54 on the pivot 52 that is arranged to be moved toward and away trom the axis ot' rotation of thedevice by the eccentricity ot 'the bearing surface 48, the movement imparted to the ring member 50 by the eccentric 48 being just sufficient to compensate for the swinging movement of the valve operating member 54 about the pivot 52'. By thus controlling this movement l am able to obtain the very desirable operating conditions of the valve illustrated in the diagram in Fig. 10, in Which the lead remains constant and the cut oil may be varied to any desired extent.

ln a valve diagram, as shown in Fig. 1t), the outside circle B represents the eccentric movement in full gear, the valve propern tions being iigured to give the best results tor such engines as it is to be used on'. ausing the pin 56 to be moved in the slot 57 to give a lesser valve movement is obtained by turning the hand Wheels 34, givleu ing valve movement as indicated by circle C. Still further reduction in travel corresponds to circles D andFi.` y 1 The angles ol.A advance are represented by lines at right angles to other lines tangent to the lead circle and steam lap circles. Thus, it will be eeen that vWith the steam lap lined with constant lead'the angle of ad'- vance is decreasedl as the valve travel is increased giving cut-otfs as at B1, B2, B3, Bg, respectively, varying from 85.6% at l, to 54.7% at B4. This advantageous valve oper?- ating condition is obtained by the use ofV the straight line motion ofpin 56 to one side ot the center as hereinbefore explainet.

The foregoing description vand accompanying drawings clearly disclose a preferred en'ibodiment of my .invention7 but, it Will be 'understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that numerous changes may be made Within the scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: L

l. ln valve operating devices -For steam engines` a rotary housing, a valve operating member pivoted Within said housing. a vpin on said valve operating member projecting outwardly from the vfront of said housing at a point removed from the center of rotation and means for simultaneously oscillating said valve operating member and moving the pivot that supports said valve Voperating member to produce movement of said pin in a straight line to one side of the center of rotation of said housing.

2. In valve operating devices for steam engines, a shaft adapted to be rotated at the same speed as an engine crank shaft, a housing fixed on the outer end of said shaft, a front plate for said housing having a straight slot extending across the same to one side of the center, a movable fulcrum in said housing, a valve operating rmember on said fulcruin, a pin on said valve operating member projecting outwardly through said slot and means for simultaneously oscillating said valve operating member' and moving fulcrum to cause said valve operating pin to be moved along said slot.

3. Valve operating devices for steam engines, embodying a tubular shaft, a housingl secured to the end thereof, a valve adjusting shaft disposed therein7 a hub on the end of said valve adjusting shaft rotatable within said housing, said hub having a. bearing surface eccentric relative to said valve adjusting shaft, a ring member operable on said eccentric bearing surface, a valve operating member fulcrumed on said ring member, a valve operating pin projecting outwardly from said valve operating member, and crank pin means on said hub for oscillating said valve operating member whereby said valve operating pin will be moved in a straight line that passes to one side of the center of rotation of said housing.

a. Valve operating devices for steam engines embodying a tubular shaft, gears rotatably connecting said tubular shaft with the engine crank shaft, an internally threaded sleeve movable lengthwise `within said tubular shaft, means operable from the exterior of said tubular shaft for moving said sleeve, a screw shaft threaded into said sleeve and arranged to berotated by longitudinal movement of said sleeve, means supporting a rank pin at the outer end of said tubular shaft, andy means operated by the turning of said .screw shaft for adjusting the angularity and distance of said crank pin relative to the axis of rotation of said tubular shaft by moving said crank pin in a straight line along a path that passes to one side of the center of rotation of said shaft.

5. Valve operating devices for steam engines embodying a tubular shaft, gears rotatably connecting said shaft with the engine crank shaft, an internally threaded sleeve movable lengthwise within said tubular shaftand rotatable therewith` externally operated means for moving said sleeve, a screw shaft threaded into said sleeve and arranged Vto be rot-ated by endwise movearranged to be operated by rotation of said I screw shaft for moving said crank pin in a. straight line that passes to one side of the axis of said housing tov adjust the angularity and distance of the same relative to the axis of rotation of said housing.

6. Valve operating devices for steam lengines embodying a tubular shaft, gears rotatably connecting said shaft with the engine crank shaft, an internally threaded sleevev movable lengthwise within said tubular shaft and rotatable therewith, externally operated means for moving said sleeve, screw shaft threaded into said sleevev and arranged to be rotated by endwise movement of said sleeve, a cylindrical housing secured to the end of said tubular shaft, a valve operating member pivoted for swinging movement on a movable pivot in said housing, an eccentric pin on the end of said screw shaft having slidable connection with said valve operating member for oscillating the saine on its pivot and a crank pin 'projecting outwardly from said valve operating member and arranged to be connected with the valves of an engine, said crank pin being arranged to be rotated with said housing and to be moved in a straight path that passes to one side ofthe center `of rotation of said housing by oscillation of said valve operating memben 7. Valve operating devices for steamA engines, embodying a tubular shaft, gears connecting said tubular shaft with an engine crank shaft, an internally threaded sleeve movable Alengthwise within said tubular shaft, non-rotatable means for movingr said leeve within said tubular shaft screw devices for operating said non-rotatable sleeve moving means, an externally threaded shaft disposed within said sleeve and arranged to be rotated by longitudinal movement of said sleeve, a. cylindrical drum forming a housing fixedly secured to the outer end of said tubular shaft, a hub on the end ofsaid screw shaft rotatably journaled in said housing and having a cylindrical bearing surface that is eccentric relative .to said threaded shaft, a ring member arranged to 't over said eccentric bearing surface, a stud pin on said ring member, a block on said stud pin guided for radial movement toward and away from the center of said housing, a valve adjusting member Afulcrumed on said stud pin. a block slidably disposed within said valve adjusting member, an eccentric pin on said hub protruding into said block for moving said valve adjusting member on its fulcrum when said screw shaft is turned relative to said tubular shaft, and an outwardly projecting pin on said valve adjusting member, the end of said housing 5 having a straightslot at one side of the center through which said crank pin eX- tends; the combined movement of the ful- Crum of said valve adjusting member and oscillation of said valve adjustingv member causing` said crank pin to he moved in` a 10 substantially straight line in said slot.

v In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my naine this 21st day of July, A. D. 1924.

KNUTE BERGER. 

